My Hobby Tools & Supplies

 


This is where you will find a bit of info on some of the tools I like to use and where I like to get my supplies for my projects. I will include links to specific items when available, and try and offer up alternatives when they are not available.

You'll notice that I try and keep all my purchases reasonable, meaning I don't see the point in spending more for "name-brand" items when there are good quality alternatives that will do the job just as well. I look for what fit's my needs and my budget. Knowing the needs of your projects can also help you save quite a bit of money. I often buy tools that may get poor reviews in one aspect of their use, but if I won't be using it for that specific aspect, and they are otherwise fine, then I will buy the cheaper tool.

In some cases however, I try and buy higher quality items just to make my life easier, such as the Busboard Prototype Systems BB830 breadboards, Thermaltronics rosin and tinner, and Pinecil Soldering Iron I use. There are cheaper alternatives, and I have used some of them, but in each case they were inferior to the point of causing  more problems than they're worth, thus justifying spending more to buy better quality items.

Any specific tools or items you see here are ones I have bought and continue to use. Many of the tools I buy will be from Amazon or eBay. While most of the components I use come from Mouser Electronics or DigiKey, unless they are out-dated, then it's often eBay. 

However, I do buy some of my components off Amazon as well, even though they are often marked-up in price compared to proper suppliers like Mouser. There are situation where the free two-day Prime shipping can make up for that marked-up price. When I link to specific components on this list from Amazon, that means I trust them, have had little to no issues with them, and actually use them in my projects.

Note: All Amazon links are "affiliate links", meaning if you use that link to buy the item, Amazon gives me a tiny commission for the referral, pennies on the dollar in most cases, and they do not alter the price of the item being purchased. My primary reason for using affiliate links is their convenience, and since this is a very low-traffic "hobby" blog, I don't expect to make any money off of them. I just want to be open and ensure that browsers of my tiny little blog know what they are clicking. Thank you!

Late Updated: March 2024



  • Soldering Tools and Accessories
  •  Cutting, Stripping, Modding, and Other Must Have Tools
  • Power Supply and Delivery 
  • Magnifying Tools
  • Programming and Prototyping Tools
  • Oscilloscope, Testers, and Logic Tools

 


A vast majority of all the components you see listed below are Amazon alternatives to what I most often buy from Mouser Electronics or DigiKey. While I may prefer to buy from these trusted sources, there are times when it's more practical to buy them off Amazon. 
 

 When placing a large order or buying in bulk, you're much better off buying from a proper supplier like Mouser or DigiKey. Not only do you get a better overall deal on the per-unit price, but the shipping cost is justified on larger orders. However, when you are just ordering a single part, or a very small order, the inflated Amazon price is easily offset by the free shipping, and the fact you get the item in just a few days at most is also a plus. 
 
A common misconception is that most electronic components sold on Amazon are "cheap China crap" or fake, and while there are indeed many items on Amazon that fall into that category, there are still a lot of good components for sale on Amazon. Like I said at the start of this page, if I have linked the item below, that means I have actually used it, tested it, and found it to be within the specified tolerances.
  • Resistors
  • Capacitors 
  • Transistors 
  •  Diodes
  • LED
  • Voltage Regulators
  •  Crystal Oscillators 
  • Potentiometers and Trimpots
  • Microcontrollers
  • Integrated Circuits
  • Speakers and Sound
  • Wire, Terminals, and Connectors
  • Buttons and Switches
  • Prototyping Printed Circuit Boards (PCB)
  • Project Enclosures 
  •  Other Stuff 

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